Ramanujacharya – Biography - ebooks - ISKCON desire tree

However, the atrocities that Kulottunga's men hadcommitted were too much for the frail body of Mahapurna tobear. Lying down on the road, he rested his head on the lapof Kuresa and said to him, "You must go alone to Sri Rangam,for I can tell that the time has now come for me to leavethis world. There is nothing to lament over in this, for mymind is fixed on Sri Yamunacarya and I am longing to bereunited with that great soul. When you meet again with mybeloved disciple, Ramanuja, offer millions of obeisances athis feet on my behalf." Having said this, Mahapurna gave uphis life, meditating on the feet of his guru.Not long after he began these cruel persecutions,King Koluttunga became afflicted with an incurable diseaseand died a short time later. For one who causes distress tothe Lord's devotees everything is inauspicious. The son ofKoluttunga, who was named Vikrama, then began to rule overthe kingdom of the Cholas. Although his father had been suchan ardent Saivite, Vikrama Chola later on became aninitiated disciple of Ramanuja and learned from him the pathof devotion to Lord Visnu.YATIRAJA IN THE FORESTWhilst his disciple was suffering at the hands ofKoluttunga, Yatiraja had been able to escape from Sri Rangamundetected. In the forest to the west of the city he met upwith Govinda, Dasarathi, Dhanurdasa, and his otherfollowers. Fearing pursuit by the king's officers, theyproceeded quickly through the forest in a westerlydirection, walking constantly for two days and two nightswithout food of any kind. Eventually they lay down exhaustedat the foot of a hill, their feet blistered and their bodiescut by the forest thorns. In a short time the whole partywas asleep.Near to where Ramanuja and his disciples lay was avillage inhabited by candalas, men of very lowly birth. Whensome of the villagers saw a group of brahmanas sleeping nearto their homes, they were very anxious to render whateverservice they could to these holy men. Therefore, withoutdisturbing the sleepers, they collected large quantities ofdifferent types of fruits from the forest and stacked themall around where the brahmanas lay. Then they lit a firenearby and stood waiting for the brahmanas to awaken so thatthey could learn what had brought them to that remoteregion.Eventually, Yatiraja and the others awoke refreshedfrom their sleep. When they saw the fruits, the fire, andthe forest dwellers standing there ready to serve them, theycould understand that Lord Narayana was protecting them fromthe dangers of the forest. They quickly bathed in a nearbyriver and then, after offering the fruits to Lord Hari, theysatisfied their hunger by feasting on the prasadam. From95